Every year, the Nature Photographer of the Year competition showcases the best of what the natural world has to offer through the eyes of talented photographers. The 2024 edition has not only lived up to expectations but blown them out of the water!
These winning images are windows into the raw beauty, drama, and resilience of nature. Breathtaking landscapes that look like they’re straight out of a fantasy novel, intimate portraits of wildlife in their natural habitats, you name it! Each photograph tells a story!
What makes this year’s winners truly stand out is their ability to evoke emotion and spark curiosity. Some images transport you to icy tundras where survival is a daily battle, while others invite you into the lush heart of a rainforest brimming with life.
There are moments of stillness that feel meditative, contrasted with action-packed shots that capture the pulse of the wild. Each frame is a masterpiece, celebrating not only the incredible skill of the photographers but also the wonders of the natural world they’ve so beautifully captured.
Let’s dive into the highlights of the 2024 Nature Photographer of the Year competition and celebrate the extraordinary moments they’ve immortalized!
1. March Of The Mussels
Credit: Theo Bosboom
Think mussels are boring? Give me a chance to change you mind! A captivating image of a bed of mussels in their natural intertidal habitat at Praia da Ursa, a stunning beach on Portugal’s Atlantic west coast. This photo transports viewers to a scene of dense, clustered life!
The photographer likened these stationary mussels to a marching army, with their shell shapes resembling the shields of soldiers. Quite the visual parallel, isn’t it? It could easily be imagined in epic tales like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.
The image was shot using a probelens, a specialized thin macro wide-angle lens that allowed an up-close perspective of the mussels while also capturing the breathtaking backdrop of Praia da Ursa.
Using this technique managed to highlight the intricate details of the mussels and the grandeur of their environment at the same time! Focus stacking was employed to enhance the depth of field as well, giving the photo its remarkable clarity and dimension.
Mussels face significant threats in their lifetime, including predation by birds and sea stars and the risk of being dislodged by waves. To survive, they use byssal threads to attach to one another, forming extensive mats that offer communal protection. We see it quite beautifully here!
2. Love In The Deep
Credit: Luca Luigi Mario Ghezzi
A mesmerizing underwater moment from the Adda River, captured by a photographer who frequently snorkels its waters, reveals an unexpected tender scene. The Adda, located in Lombardy, Italy, is home to the invasive European catfish (Silurus glanis).
Now, let’s establish something: this species is a predatory one, which has spread throughout the Po basin, disrupting local ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite their ecological impact, this image brings a softer perspective to the species!
The photographer, exploring a known habitat of these elusive fish, discovered a pair of European catfish beneath a pile of logs on the riverbed. The composition, framed naturally by the logs, creates an image reminiscent of newlyweds tenderly embracing. Aww!
Capturing this intimate scene was no small feat, as the murky waters and dim lighting made it challenging to achieve a clear shot. But after surfacing and reviewing the images, the photographer was thrilled to find that the moment had been perfectly frozen in time!
This photograph shows the poignancy of the delicate balance between nature’s beauty and the challenges of invasive species. It’s a nudge for us to reflect on the complexity of ecosystems and the stories that unfold beneath the surface!
3. In Ambush
Credit: Pietro Formis
I know it looks abstract, but stick around! I promise, it’s interesting. Captured in the Adriatic Sea near Rabac, Croatia, this image shows the Mediterranean monkfish (Lophius piscatorius).
These species are masterful ambush predators you wouldn’t even believe! Found resting against a rocky wall at a depth of 15 meters, this fish blends seamlessly with its surroundings, relying on its expert camouflage to remain undetected.
Its fleshy appendage, resembling a small fish, acts as a natural lure to attract unsuspecting prey. Genius! But let’s talk about this photo in particular. It is part of a series highlighting ambush predators, demonstrating the monkfish’s remarkable ability to blend into its environment while waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The photographer employed an innovative technique combining a slow shutter speed with deliberate camera movement to create a blurred backdrop. Flash lighting was then used to overlay a sharp, detailed image of the fish, creating a stunning visual contrast that highlights the monkfish’s unique features!
4. Disturbing Shadow
Credit: Sebastien Blomme
Just a short distance from their home in Toulouse, France, a photographer captures one of the region’s most fascinating insects: the Empusa pennata.
Throughout the year, this insect is observed in its larval form. Its stick-like body and calculated movements make it a challenge to spot, but each sighting feels like discovering a tiny treasure hidden among the grass and branches!
Come May, an even more extraordinary transformation takes place with the emergence of adult empuses. Male empuses, which can be easily identified by their feather-like antennae, use these intricate structures to detect female pheromones, a critical part of their reproduction and survival.
For this particular image, the photographer positioned themselves to capture the insect against the backdrop of a golden sunrise. The soft morning light illuminated the Empusa pennata’s slender silhouette. The resulting single-exposure photograph is an amazing representation of the insect’s fragility and resilience, isn’t it?
Empuses thrive in untamed wastelands, habitats increasingly at risk due to urban expansion. Images like these are a great reminder as to why and how we should protect species like these!
5. Surfing On The Other Side
Credit: Levi Fitze
During a two-week journey to the Falkland Islands in South America, Fitze captured a breathtaking scene of Gentoo Penguins in their natural habitat.
Known as the fastest swimmers among penguins, these agile birds return from their ocean hunts by riding the waves like skilled surfers. The image shows the penguins’ effortless grace as they glide on the waves like some kind of mermaid!
The photographer spent two afternoons meticulously observing this behavior, determined to capture the perfect shot. The waves, captured at just the right moment, add dynamic energy to the frame. It must have taken so many shots to get this perfect one!
By bringing attention to these fascinating behaviors, the image invites viewers to appreciate the species we may not know as much about!
6. Giant Octopus Dofleini
Credit: Andrey Shpatak
Beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean lies the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). This creature is as intelligent as it is captivating!
Known for its almost human-like behavior, this octopus displays a wide range of personalities – from aggressive defenders of their territory to curious individuals willing to show off their hunting techniques!
During one underwater exploration, the photographer encountered an octopus calmly resting on the seabed at a depth of 20 meters. Upon noticing the observer, the octopus seemed to acknowledge its presence before swimming toward the surface, leaving the photographer in awe of its calculated yet graceful movements.
Despite the reef being relatively shallow and the octopus measuring a modest 1.5 meters in arm span, its presence was anything but ordinary. If you need more info on oct octopuses: they can disguise themselves incredibly well, having no trouble blending with their surroundings by mimicking the colors and textures of the reef wall. Cool!
During the day, they often rest while snacking on leftovers from their nocturnal hunts. On this occasion, the octopus got startled by the observer. So, it fled elegantly which the photographer captured beautifully.
7. Curious Guanaco
Credit: Charles Janson
Amid the icy landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, a photographer captured an unexpected yet mesmerizing scene. On a frigid morning, with temperatures plummeting to -20°C and dense frozen fog enveloping the surroundings, the iconic spires of the Torres stood dramatically against the frostbitten air!
What began as a landscape photograph transformed into something extraordinary when a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) wandered into the frame. Initially perceived as an intrusion, the lone guanaco was soon joined by several others, adding a dynamic element to the whole composition of the photo!
The photographer, who had extensive experience with llamas, immediately recognized the animals’ curious but calm demeanor. This familiarity allowed for a patient approach. But it’s more complex than that now! There was the misfortune of a damaged main camera and telephoto lens the day before.
But worry not! The photographer adapted, using a backup mid-range lens to emphasize the guanacos within the wider landscape instead. All in all, quite the beautiful shot!
8. Angel Or Demon
Credit: Francesco Guffanti
Near the photographer’s hometown in the Aosta Valley, nestled in the northwestern Italian Alps, a fascinating scene of nature’s cycle unfolded. A young deer (Cervus elaphus), struck by a car and lying lifeless nearby, provided an opportunity to observe the behavior of carnivores and scavengers in the region.
The photographer, with the help of a friend, set up motion sensors and camouflaged cameras to capture the nocturnal visitors to the carcass. Initially, foxes, crows, and small birds took advantage of the deer’s remains, but the most unexpected arrival came from the sky: a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
Despite the dense cover of branches, this majestic bird, with its two-meter wingspan and sharp talons, descended to feast on the offering! What a rare and dramatic encounter! While the golden eagle fed, the cameras snapped the scene without the use of artificial light. And oh, there was minimal interference with the natural process.
In the days that followed, wolves visited under the cover of darkness, consuming the carcass completely. Though no images of the wolves were captured, their presence reinforced the photographer’s intent to document without disrupting the delicate balance of nature!
9. The Path To Bath
Credit: Lakshitha Karunarathna
Runner up to the winner of the mammal category! After having some fun in the mud and dust, a herd of Sri Lankan elephants trot their way towards a waterhole, following their well-worn daily path.
Among them, one darker elephant stood out, having just returned from a solo bath but deciding to rejoin the group for another visit to the waterhole. This image captures their routine and the beauty of their synchronized movement through fragmented forest blocks, where they rest during the day and night! Stunning!
The photographer’s job was not easy before this, though. Karunarathna had been documenting the elephants’ relationship with garbage dumps in Sri Lanka’s Eastern province when they noticed this touching scene.
Despite their cultural and symbolic importance in Sri Lanka, the country’s elephant population faces severe threats. Poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and habitat destruction caused by urban sprawl and development projects have contributed to the steep decline of this endangered subspecies of the Asian elephant.
Significant areas of elephant habitat continue to be lost to irrigation and agriculture, pushing these gentle giants closer to extinction. Saddening.
10. Games Between Siblings
Credit: Paolo Della Rocca
The winner of the contest, and for good reason! In the rugged beauty of Spiti Valley in northern India, photographer Paolo Della Rocca realized a lifelong dream: an unforgettable and rare real-life view of the hard-to-spot snow leopard.
Known as “ghosts of the mountains,” these majestic creatures are incredibly difficult to spot. Yet, this extraordinary adventure led to the photographer observing and capturing a pair of sub-adult snow leopard siblings in various moments of their lives! Cute and breathtaking!
The highlight of the journey came on February 1st, after hours of patient waiting on the edge of a canyon in freezing temperatures of -25°C, amidst a relentless snowstorm (what dedication!). The siblings, initially resting in a cave, eventually emerged as calm returned to the landscape.
What followed was a breathtaking display of their playful spirit, as they chased and jumped at each other along the snowy slopes with boundless energy and joy. The photographer captured a frame so perfect, so alive, that it seemed almost too incredible to be true! Congratulations on the award!